“…Um, alright.”

In truth, I didn’t want to dance with him, but I couldn’t publicly refuse his dance invitation as my fiancé, so I reluctantly made the decision. I took his outstretched hand.

“Oh, sister! Lord Marquis, you were here too!”

At that moment, Danae approached, calling out to me and Leonard. Having changed from her blue dress into a gold dress adorned with rubies, she was beautiful to the point of being excessive. She looked up at Leonard with a seductive gaze and said:

“Were you about to waltz with my sister, Lord Marquis?”

“Yes, Lady Yusten.”

Leonard replied shyly. Danae flashed him a pretty smile, then turned to me and said:

“Sister, I’m sorry, but could I dance the waltz with the Lord Marquis first?”

“…What…? Lady Yusten. What are you suddenly saying…!”

Leonard exclaimed in surprise to Danae. I calmly asked her:

“Why? According to etiquette, you should have your first dance with Uncle since you don’t have a fiancé. If you don’t like that, you can dance with a young noble gentleman who fancies you.”

“But Father isn’t here right now because His Majesty called for him. And I can’t dance with another gentleman either! Marquis Albert has been chasing away all the men approaching me, saying ‘Please dance the first dance with me’!”

“Then you can dance with Marquis Albert.”

“No way! What if rumors spread from dancing with that man at an event like this? What if Father likes it and pushes for my engagement to that man? I still want to live in the Yusten mansion with you and Father!”

Danae whined like a child, being stubborn. I deliberately let out a big sigh as if the situation was troublesome, and glanced at Leonard. I felt irritated by his indecisiveness, stuck between Danae and me, unable to do anything.

‘Just say honestly that you want to dance with Danae. Or if you’re worried about your reputation, just say you’ll dance with me.’

His constant silence, alternating glances between Danae and me, seemed almost as if he was enjoying the situation. I felt not just irritation but even disgust at his behavior. It was repulsive to see him weighing his options between the glamorous me and the even more glamorous Danae, relishing the envious gazes upon him. Finally, unable to contain my revulsion, I slowly spoke:

“…Sigh, alright. Danae. You dance the first dance with Leonard. I’ll concede to you.”

“Really?”

Danae asked, her face brightening. It was then that:

“How fortunate. Then I shall ask Lady Christine Yusten for a dance.”

Duke Haven said, placing his hand on my shoulder. Surprised by his unexpected action, I opened my eyes wide. The Duke looked down at me and said:

“Will you waltz with me?”

I felt like I would be entranced by his handsome face and deep gaze looking at me. Just as I was about to nod unconsciously, Leonard exclaimed angrily:

“What are you doing, Duke Haven! She is my fiancée! I’m the one who should have the first dance with her at today’s party!”

The Duke calmly responded to his words:

“I know. But didn’t Lady Christine just concede her right to dance with you to her cousin, Lady Danae? And you didn’t particularly refuse either, Marquis.”

“…That’s…!”

“And do you think that you, a mere Marquis who hasn’t even inherited your father’s title yet, can refuse my request when I, a Duke, desire it?”

Saying this, the Duke looked down at Leonard with a cold, mocking gaze. Leonard’s face twisted miserably. The Duke, without even glancing at him, asked me:

“Now, Lady Christine Yusten. I’ll ask again. Will you dance one song with me?”

“…I would be delighted to accept.”

I took his hand, pretending to be reluctant. The Duke smiled gently and led me to the center of the ballroom. He raised our joined right hands and wrapped his left hand around my back, embracing me. Then he naturally began to waltz in time with the music. Matching my steps to his skillful movements, I whispered to him:

“I was surprised. I never expected you would ask me for a waltz.”

“Why not? Isn’t it natural for a knight who has fallen for a beautiful lady at a banquet to seize the opportunity and ask her for a dance that night?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Now everyone will think I’ve lost my senses after falling for you.”

“I hope so.”

I replied nonchalantly to the Duke’s words. Then he whispered in my ear:

“So stop worrying about arousing suspicion, and just focus on the waltz.”

“What? Aah!”

At that moment, he lifted me up with both arms. I hurriedly gasped and let out a short scream. The Duke immediately put me down and said:

“It’s one of the waltz moves. Why are you so surprised?”

“…You’re surprising me in unexpected ways several times today. At this rate, my heart won’t survive.”

I glared at the Duke, not unkindly, and retorted. The Duke gently raised the corners of his mouth and said:

“Well, haven’t you surprised me like this several times before? Think of it as payback.”

At those words, I wore a blank expression for a moment, then soon burst into quiet laughter. His black eyes looking at me curved gently.

I was captivated by his appearance. I gazed, as if entranced, at his handsome face shining like a jewel under the light of the magnificent chandelier. I danced the waltz even more earnestly to hide the sound of my heart beating loudly.

At last, the musicians stopped playing. Having successfully completed the first dance at today’s party, the Duke and I bowed politely to each other. Just as I was about to make way, the Duke held me back and whispered:

“I told you to bring the brooch I gave you last time. Did you bring it?”

“Ah, yes. It’s here.”

I took out the pocket hidden within my voluminous dress and showed it to the Duke. Without hesitation, he took the pocket and pulled out the brooch. I asked curiously:

“But what are you going to do with that?”

The Duke unfastened the brooch’s hook without answering.

Then he took out a rough silver chain from his breast pocket, attached the brooch to the center of the chain to make it like a necklace, and put it around my neck. The nobles who had been glancing at us pretending not to, gasped. Their eyes widened as they confirmed the rumored brooch that the Duke had reportedly bought at a high price.

I was also surprised and asked him:

“What is this about…?”

He brought his face close to my ear and whispered:

“Now everyone will know that you are the owner of this brooch.”

“…!”

“From now on, I’ll send invitation cards and carriages to your mansion, pretending to court you sincerely, so ride those to come to my mansion. Stop riding dangerous things like cargo wagons. And don’t sneak out of the mansion secretly, avoiding the Duke’s eyes dangerously.”

The Duke stepped back from me after saying that. At his words, I felt my mind go blank. I was grateful to him for deliberately showing off the brooch, creating a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for me to frequent his mansion. And I was touched by his words worrying about my safety. The fact that he, who was my enemy in my previous life, was giving me concern that I had never received in my previous life, made my heart swell.

I asked him with a dazed expression:

“…Did you plan this when you told me to bring the brooch?”

The Duke shrugged once and answered in a barely audible voice:

“Yes. It would be troublesome if a capable strategist like you were to die or get hurt.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh. While I was happy with his words acknowledging me, I felt an inexplicable disappointment. Without showing such feelings, I said to him:

“Don’t worry. I won’t die or get hurt before I complete my mission.”

The Duke nodded his head as if to say, “Of course you won’t.”

Meanwhile, Leonard, who had been sharply observing me and the Duke all along, approached and said:

“It seems you’ve said all you needed to say to my fiancée. Now, can I take my woman back?”

The Duke twisted one corner of his mouth upwards and said to him:

“Isn’t it too early to definitively call this person your woman when you’re not even married yet?”

“…!”

“Well then, I’ll be going now. …It was enjoyable, Lady Yusten. Let’s meet again next time.”

With those final words, the Duke waved lightly at me. Knowing that gesture implied the ‘upcoming commotion’, I gave him a meaningful smile.

Leonard looked back and forth between the Duke and me, and said roughly:

“Damn it. That bastard has been really! And why are you smiling at that bastard!”

“What else can I do, Leonard? He’s a Duke, we can’t be rude to him.”

“Damn bastard. How dare he covet another man’s fiancée.”

I calmly retorted to his words. Leonard glared at the Duke’s retreating figure, muttering in a voice filled with killing intent. Meanwhile, Danae walked towards me with an eerily expressionless face. And she said to me in a trembling voice:

“…No way. I couldn’t believe it, but to think that rumored star sapphire brooch was actually yours, sister. Why would that stuck-up man give it to you…”

“…Danae.”

I said, stepping back to avoid her as she approached me. Somehow, I was scared of Danae looking at me with unfocused eyes. Just like that day when she pushed me out the window.

Then Danae grabbed my shoulders with both hands and shouted: